Hello Richmondside readers. Here are some highlights of things to do and know this coming week and beyond.
In the next few days, you can honor the history of women shipbuilders, check out the city’s new food vendor court or take in a documentary about Richmond’s famous Tibetan monastery.
In the coming weeks, you can plant a tree, celebrate National Chess Day and let your kids frolic in the pool with some pumpkins at the Plunge.
For additional events, check our calendar and be sure to add your own listings, too.
Mobile food vendor markets now open on Thursdays through Sundays
You can now sample a variety of food at several outdoor locations citywide, thanks to Richmond’s new mobile food vendor program, open on various days at three locations.
One will be open Thursdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the downtown city public lot at 1401 Macdonald Ave.
The street vendors are also open for business on Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 325 Civic Center Plaza and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot at Marina Bay Park off Regatta Boulevard and Melville Square.
The marketplaces include everything from tacos to sandwiches to pupusas to refreshing drinks.
The program is co-sponsored by the city of Richmond and the Richmond Farmers Market.
Richmond Chamber of Commerce celebrates its centennial Friday
It’s 100 years and counting for the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, which this week celebrates a century of helping local businesses.
The chamber’s 100 Year Anniversary Celebration is being held on Fri., Oct. 4, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Riggers Loft, 1325 Canal Blvd.
The event will honor dignitaries and look back at how the chamber, founded in 1924, has grown along with Richmond.
Tickets to the event are, appropriately, an even $100.
“This milestone is not just a celebration of the chamber but a testament to our community’s resilience, dedication and success,” chamber officials say.
Gala dinner Saturday benefits Rosie the Riveter Trust Fund
Come celebrate the history of the women who worked at the Richmond Shipyards.
The Rosie the Riveter Trust 2024 Gala dinner is on Sat., Oct. 5, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the West County Salesian Youth Center and Gym, 2801 Moran Ave.
The gala will feature a three-course dinner from Blue Heron Catering in Hayward.
The keynote speaker will be Tracey Panek, a historian and director of archives for Levi Strauss & Company. Panek has studied and met with some of the women who worked at the shipyards during World War II and were known by the nickname Rosie the Riveter.
Panek, whose company outfitted some of the shipyard workers, is also a frequent visitor to the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front Historical Park in Richmond.
Proceeds from the gala dinner go to the Rosie the Riveter Trust, which helps operate the park and preserve the history of this group.
Election forums tonight and next week
Local residents will have a chance to meet the candidates running for the West Contra Costa Unified School District board of education and the Contra Costa County Office of Education board this evening.
The forum is today from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Making Waves Academy, 4123 Lakeside Drive in Richmond.
Also tonight, the West Contra Costa Council of Industries will host a forum for voters to meet the candidates for Richmond City Council. The event is from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room of The Shops at Hilltop, 2200 Hilltop Mall Road. (Enter on the south side of the mall next to the Richmond police office west of Walmart.)
A forum co-hosted by Richmondside for District 5 City Council candidates will be held on Tue., Oct. 8, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Easter Hill United Methodist Church, 3911 Cutting Blvd. RSVP here. The event is free and will feature light refreshments and Spanish translation. You can also attend via Zoom.
On Wed., Oct. 9, the League of Women Voters of West Contra Costa County is hosting a forum to discuss two ballot measures that intend to change how Richmond voters choose candidates. That event is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the City Council chambers, 440 Civic Center Plaza. You can watch that forum via Zoom or on Channel 28 TV.
If you’re not sure which Richmond City Council district you live in, you can check out this map. Read our voter registration guide for more information, including important dates.
Get a Taste of Richmond during Restaurant Week
Local restaurants will feature special deals and menus as well as culinary tours during this fall’s Taste of Richmond – Restaurant Week from Mon., Oct. 7, to Sun., Oct. 13.
During the week, participating restaurants will offer price discounts and specialty menus. There will also be chances to interact with chefs and take a culinary tour of a Richmond neighborhood.
The event’s website lists the special events.
“The Taste of Richmond — Restaurant Week is not just a culinary event; it’s a celebration of community, flavor, and the spirit of Richmond,” event organizers say. “Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor, we invite you to experience the best of Richmond’s dining scene and support the hardworking chefs and restaurateurs who make it all possible.”
Walk to support programs fighting hunger on Saturday
You can literally take some steps in the right direction this weekend to help support the fight against hunger and homelessness in the Richmond area.
The 38th annual Harmony Walk is set for Sat., Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Nicholl Park, 3230 Macdonald Ave.
The event will feature food trucks, live music and family-friendly activities.
It is sponsored by the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP), a nonprofit organization that serves 15,000 people annually in west Contra Costa County.
Cost is $38 per person and $12 for each additional individual signed up with the original registration.
Tibetan food, documentary screening is Saturday
You can get a taste of Tibetan culture as well as watch a new documentary at an event this weekend.
A special screening of “Saranam Gacchâmi” will be part of the festivities, which are on Sat., Oct. 5, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Richmond City Council chamber, 440 Civic Center Plaza.
The documentary by local filmmaker Priyanka Suryaneni details the journey of Gacchâmi, a Buddhist monk, from his homeland in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal to Richmond, where he established the Gyuto Foundation in East Richmond Heights, one of the largest Tibetan monasteries in the Bay Area.
A panel discussion will be presented after the film. Tibetan dishes will also be served.
The free event is sponsored by the Richmond Public Library.
CANCELED: Free tips Saturday on creating sustainable garden mound hills
A workshop previously mentioned in this column is not taking place as Annie’s Annuals unexpectedly closed this week.
It’s a bird…it’s a…bird! Shoreline walk on Monday
You can wander through woods and stroll along the shoreline during a bird watching outing early next week.
The East Bay Regional Park District is sponsoring a nature walk Mon., Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Park district naturalist Anthony Fisher will lead the walk, which begins at the Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline, 900 Dornan Drive.
The event is free and no pre-registration is required.
Nighttime Richmond-San Rafael Bridge closures to end Friday
The recent nighttime lane closures on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge are expected to be finished by Friday, Oct. 4.
Caltrans crews have been doing overnight repaving work on the bridge. The work has been taking place on weekdays between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. on the upper westbound deck and 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on the lower eastbound deck.
You can check real-time traffic congestion using Caltrans’ QuickMap.
Live music, comedy at local establishments
A number of establishments in Richmond feature live entertainment and other events each week.
Music and comedy are staples at the Riggers Loft Wine Company, 1325 Canal Blvd. The schedule this week includes a performance by San Francisco-based jazz band Fake Melody on Sun., Oct. 6, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Windchaser Wine Company, 1352 S. 49th St., is hosting its monthly First Fridays Out on Fri., Oct. 4 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.. Chris James and the Showdowns will perform.
The Sailing Goat restaurant at 1900 Stenmark Drive will have live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The Baltic Kiss restaurant at 135 Park Place will feature live music Thursday through Monday.
The Backyard restaurant at 205 Cutting Blvd. will host its second annual Harvest Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6, from noon to 8 p.m..
Coming soon:
CANCELED: Beer festival to raise money for historic ship
The Battlestar Classic 8 Craft Brew Festival Fundraiser previously featured in this column has been canceled due to slow ticket sales, organizers said.
Make a move! Celebrate National Chess Day!
Kings, queens and bishops will be on the move during a daylong celebration next weekend.
The West Coast Chess Alliance is recognizing the 5th National Chess Day with tournaments and classes at the Richmond Chess Festival.
The free event will be on Sat., Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CoBiz Richmond, 1503 Macdonald Ave., Suite A.
There will be an Introduction to chess class from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., followed by a casual speed chess tournament from 11 a.m. to noon.
In addition, a “bug house” tournament, where two-person teams compete on two separate chess boards, will be held from 11 a.m. to noon.
Finally, a quad tournament will be in action from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Pre-registration is recommended.
A tree (actually many of them) will grow in Richmond!
You can help celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree in Richmond.
Community groups, including Groundwork Richmond, the Richmond Urban Forestry Advisory Committee and The Watershed Project, are sponsoring a free tree planting on Sat., Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon at South Side Park, 361 South 6th St.
Participants can learn about urban gardening as well as help plant trees at the park and at residences where people have signed up under Richmond’s Adopt-A-Tree program.
“It’s an opportunity to learn about what a tree needs, how to give it a good start and keep it alive for three years until it can make it on its own,” said Janet Flint, the chairperson of the Urban Forest Advisory Committee. “You can learn why trees are so important to human health, and ecological health, how they provide shade and pull carbon out of the air. Studies show that people are happier when they are surrounded by trees.”
Organizers ask participants to bring a reusable water bottle, gloves, sunscreen and closed-toe shoes. The holes for the trees will have already been dug by city workers.
Event organizers are still inviting groups and agencies to set up tables at the event. Contact colin@groundworkrichmond.org, or janet4space@gmail.com.
Dia de los Muertos Fall Family Day at the art center
Art and music will come together at a family event later this month.
The Dia de los Muertos: Fall Family Day will be held on Sat., Oct. 19, noon to 3 p.m., at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave.
The free event will celebrate the upcoming Day of the Dead holiday (traditionally celebrated Nov. 1-2) as the center’s galleries and courtyard come alive with music and art-making activities.
There will also be a live performance by Danza Azteca Teokalli.
An encore performance for roller derby teams
Roller derby will return to Richmond for another battle between two Bay Area teams.
The Oakland Outlaws will take on the San Francisco Rolling Dead on Sat., Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza.
The battle is the final contest in a three-game series between the two all-female teams.
A special exhibition performance by the junior roller derby team the BAD Seeds will precede the main event. It begins at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets purchased before Oct. 13 are $33.85. Tickets after that date are $44.52. Both prices include fees.
Play with pumpkins in the pool!
Children can celebrate Halloween a little early at an event at The Plunge, 1 East Richmond Ave. in Point Richmond.
The swim center is sponsoring a Floating Pumpkin Patch on Sat, Oct. 19, from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. and from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Children will be able to swim amid pumpkins that are bobbing about in the pool waters. Children are allowed to take one pumpkin home with them.
Children 8 years and younger must have an adult in the pool with them. Children older than 8 years must have a paying adult supervising them.
Advanced registration is required. The fee for children who live in Richmond is $10. It’s $7 for adults who live in Richmond. For non-residents, the admission charge is $12.50 for children and $8.75 for adults.
Let Halloween inspire your artistic talents
You can paint pumpkins and rocks at another early Halloween celebration.
A Puff and Paint art session is being held Sat., Oct. 19, from 4:20 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the 7 Stars Holistic Healing Center, 3219 Pierce St.
At this free event, participants can paint faces on pumpkins or dabble in some rock painting. There will also be craft sessions and artists’ pop-ups.
Participants will be able to take their painted pumpkin home. The decorated rocks will be placed in the healing center’s inspirational rock garden.
‘Fat People’ sponsoring hike along Richmond shoreline
“Fat People Hiking Bay Area” has organized a 1.8 mile hike on Point Isabel.
The free hike is on Sat., Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to noon. No registration is required. It starts at the Rydin Road Staging Area and follows the Richmond shoreline to Marina Park.
“Fat People Hiking Bay Area” is an organization of women and gender-expansive people with larger bodies who embrace the word “fat.” The hikes are designed to bring this community together to connect over their love for the outdoors.
Ongoing events
Every week, local agencies and organizations host a variety of recurring events. See our calendar for more and add your local events for free.
● Two farmers markets are held weekly in Richmond. The Civic Center Farmers Market is open every Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the main library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. The Marina Bay Farmers Market is held on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marina Bay Park in the parking lot near Regatta Boulevard and Melville Square.
● A farmers market is also held weekly in El Sobrante. The market, organized by Planting Justice, is held on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5166 Sobrante Ave.
● The West Coast Chess Alliance sponsors a number of weekly chess events throughout West Contra Costa County. The Richmond Senior Center, 2525 Macdonald Ave., hosts games on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chess enthusiasts can also gather on Mondays from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the El Cerrito Community Center, 7007 Moeser Lane. On Fridays, games are held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the San Pablo Library, 13751 San Pablo Ave.
● Visit a museum, get a free transit ride. The Contra Costa Library is offering free $20 Clipper cards to residents when they make a reservation to visit a museum. There are nearly 30 museums in the Bay Area that qualify under the program. Offer is limited to two Clipper cards per household. The program runs through the end of December.
● Did you know that children can gain fluency and confidence in their reading skills with the help of a dog? The Read to a Dog program is from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. every second Tuesday and every third Wednesday in the Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room at the Richmond Main Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. Each child gets 15 minutes to read to a dog. Call (510) 620-6557 to reserve a spot.
● Saturdays at the Richmond Recreation Center are held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 3230 Macdonald Ave. Enjoy instructional activities such as Zumba, soccer, basketball, and chess Visit the website to register. Children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
● Infant & Toddler Music and Movement Storytime is on Mondays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Richmond Main Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. This Richmond Public Library Children’s Room program includes songs, fingerplays and books that are designed for families with babies and toddlers, although all ages of children are welcome.
● Family Storytime is on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Richmond Main Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. This Richmond Public Library Children’s Room program is geared toward families with toddlers. The event is a story time session with a Richmond librarian.
● The Knit ‘n’ Needle Club meets Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the West Side Branch Library, 135 Washington Ave. The gathering is for knitters, crochet and needleworkers of all levels. The meeting is a chance for people who enjoy this craft to get together while they work.
● Are you able to “eat, drink and think?” Test your knowledge of obscure facts at a weekly trivia night, Head Games Trivia, on Wednesdays at East Brother Beer Company, 1001 Canal Blvd., in Point Richmond.
Get involved in your community: Civic meetings and committees
● The Richmond City Council usually meets on the first, third and fourth Tuesday of every month. The meetings are held at City Hall, 440 Civic Center Plaza. Agendas are usually posted the preceding Friday. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Oct. 15. Learn more in our guide to the City Council.
● The Richmond Planning Commission meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. The meetings are usually held at City Hall, 440 Civic Center Plaza. The Oct. 3 was canceled due to vacancies on the commission.
● The West Contra Costa Unified School District board usually meets twice a month, often on Wednesday nights, in the multipurpose room of Lovonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Ave. in Richmond. The next meeting is Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Visit the WCCUSD calendar for the most current meeting information and for the agenda, which is posted a couple of days before the meeting. Read our guide to the school board for more information.
● The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors usually meets on Tuesdays beginning at 9 a.m. in the County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar St. in Martinez. The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 8.
● The Board of Supervisors is now accepting applications for three open seats on the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee. The 10-member commission is seeking two new at-large members as well as an at-large alternate member. Applications are due by Nov. 4. Applicants must be residents of Contra Costa County.
● There is also a vacancy on the North Richmond Municipal Advisory Council. The term is for four years. The seven-member council advises the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors on issues affecting the North Richmond area.
● The county is also seeking to appoint four new members to its 15-member Mental Health Commission. The term length is three years. Each of the county’s five supervisorial districts has three members. The commission advises county supervisors on their community’s needs and services. The commission usually meets on the first Wednesday of every month.
● The Contra Costa Resource Conservation District will soon have three openings on its five-member board of directors. County officials are seeking applicants for those positions. The district’s mission is to carry out natural resource conservation projects. The board usually meets on the third Thursday of every month.
● The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District’s Advisory Fire Commission is looking for two volunteers to serve as an at-large member on the board. The Commission is responsible for confirming the cost of abatement reports; conducting weed abatement appeal hearings; approving surplus equipment declarations; and advising the fire chief on district service matters. The commission meets on the second Monday of even-numbered months at 7 p.m. in Concord.
Be sure to add your Richmond events to our calendar. If you know of an event that you think we should highlight in What’s Up, please email hello@richmondside.org at least two weeks in advance if possible.
